Operating handle for motion-picture cameras



oct.y 9, 1923. 1,469,830 l J. TESSIER OPERATING HANDLE FOR MOTION PICTURE CAMERAS Filed Nov. 17. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 *7A ATTORNEYS.

oct. '9, 1923. 1,469,830

J. TESSIER OPERATING HANDLE FOR MOTION PICTURE CAMERAS Filed Nov. 17 1922 2 SheetsShQet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 9, 1923.

lUNITED STATES `JULIEN TESSIER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EASTMAN KODAK GOM-k PATENT OFFICE.

PANY, F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0E NEW YORK.

OPERATING HANDLE FOR MOTION-PICTURELCAMERAS.

Application filed November 17, 1922. Serial No. 601,623.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIEN TESSIER, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and Statey of New York, lhave invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Operating Handles for Motion-Picture Cameras, of

which the following yis a full, clear, and

exacty specification.

This invention relates to a folding handle for a motion picturecamera, and a camera casing countersunk to adapt it particularly for the handle. 4 i

, The objects ofthe invention are to provide such a structure in whichthere Will be no protruding. parts to be moved or harmed when the camera is not in use,` the handle being readily folded and unfolded, but which when in use will be so firm that there will be no wbbling, or tendency to fold even under the considerable strain necessary during service.` andwhich may be easily released from this firm position when desired,

' and which when folded will be held against accidental rotation, while at once available for immediate use.

With these and other objects in view'my invention 'resides in certain'structures and combinations of parts, all of which will be 3 hereinafter fully described, the novel features'being particularly pointed out in the claims at theend of the specification.

In' the drawings. in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a camera con` structedin accordance. with and illustrating one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view on line 3--3; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the crank and handle;

Fig. 5 is an end view thereof; y Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the crank; 5 Fig. 7 is a plan view of a spring;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the crank and handle assembled; and

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8 with the handle in a partly folded position.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention I have made the walls of the camera of castings and side wall 1 through which the operating drive shaft 2 passes is provided with a circular recess 3 which is of sufficient depth to contain the operating crank 4. The recess has a radial extension 5 into which the handle 6 can be folded. While portion 5 is of but little greater width than the handle 6 it is of considerably greater length, thus leaving an opening at 7 which can be used to manipulate the handle.

The operating crankk 4 is attached to the main drive shaft 2 by means of a screw 8 which holds the crank in a position in which the slotted end y9 (Fig. 9) engages a pin on the driving shaft. As best shown in Fig. 6, the crank is preferably made from a casting recessed 'at 10 and 11 for lightness and provided with shoulders 12-12 and 13-13 which are used to position the spring 14. This member is attached to crank 4 by means'of a screw 15, shoulders 12--12 positioning the squared end 16 of the spring and shoulders 13-13 preventing any lateral movement of the spring which has portions 17--17'adapted to contact with the guiding shoulders. The spring is equipped with outwardly flaring finger operating portions 18-18 between which there is an aperture 19. Obviously this end of the spring can be moved to and from the crank 4 flexing from the screw 15.

The handle 6 is fastened to a shaft 20, fiatten'ed'at 21 to pass between the arms 22-22 of crank 4, and it is pivoted at 23 to the crank. A pin 24 on the end of shaft 21 is adapted to snap into aperture 19 thus rigidly holding the handle erect. An upward pull with one finger upon the handle 6 erects it for use, but the spring 14 must be flexed by an operating portion 18 to release pin 24 permitting the handle to fold, When folded the spring 14 tends to hold the handle by contacting with the side of shaft 21, this spring resilientlv retaining the handle yin its inoperative or folded position.

In use the operation of the handle is as follows: Being in the position shown in Fig. 1 an operator inserts a finger into the recess 7 and draws out on the top of handle 6 thus flexing spring 14 causing pin 24 to snap into aperture 19. The handle is firmly locked in itsoperative position for cranking the camera. When through cranking, the handle is brought over the recess 5. By pressing down upon one or both operating portions 18-18 spring 14 is flexed releasing pin 24 from aperture 19 and by pressing the handle into recess 5, springr let contacts with the side 2l of shaft 2O and is thus retained in a folded position.

When folded the handle projects a very little distance from the side l, as is shown in Fig. 2, so that the cameray can be readily accommodated in a carrying case of relatively small size. and there is no danger of wasting ilni by accidental turning of the crank.

It is to be noted that the size ot the circular recess 3' is such that the crank with its protruding wings i8A just-tits therein, the wings which constitute theareleasing means being in an open position where theyareat once available without harina to insert 'the fingers into restricted or inconvenient space. At the same time-they are extremely unlikely to be accidentally7 operated to release't-he handle.

Then a motion picture` camerais being operated there is frequently considerable stress exerted outwardly or radially on the handle. soY that if it wereV held only by springs'or Jfriction in itsv operative position, it would wobble or turn duringT use' and result in' uneven cranking.

Itis to be understood that I contemplate as within the scopefof my invention all suchV modiiications and equiyalentsas tall within the scope ot the appended claims.

Haring thus described my invention. what' I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Manual operatingY means for a motion picture camera comprising;r a shaft; a crank rigid therewith and ahandle pivoted at one end'to the crank, said crank haring a leaf springT secured thereto and bearing` against,A the piyotediend of the handle. said handle havingn a flat surface' against which the spring is adapted to'bear'to holdthehandle resiliently in one position,` and the spring and handle havingr coeoperating latch nic1nbers, whereby the handle is positiijely hitched in another position.

Q. Manual operating means for a motion picture camera comprising a shaft, a crank rigid therewith and ahandle pivoted at the end to the crank, said crank having a leaf spring secured thereto and bearing against the pivoted end of the handle-,saidhandle liaving two surfaces against which the spring is adapted to bear to hold the handle in either of two vositions7 a lug protruding from one of said surfaces and the spring having an aperture to co-operate with the lug, whereby the handle is ositively latched in one of said positions anc said spring having an extension whereby it may be manipulated to unlatch the handle.

3. In combination, a wall having a circuf lar recess with a radial extension and havingv an aperture extending' therethrough at thecenter ot said recess, an operating shaft extending through said wall, a crank rigidly attached thereto and lying within the reoem, a handle pivoted'to the end of the crank and adapted to be positively latchedin a position at a right angle to the cranlrfand` parallelto the shaft andto be resiliently heldin a position parallel to the crank, andadapted to lie inl the extension of the recessY when in the lat-ter position.

4'. In' combination, a. wall having'v a circular recess-with a radial extension andhaving an aperture extending therethrough atv the center ot said recess. an o .ting shaft extendiner through: said wal a crank rigidly connected therewith and lying within the recess7 a handle pivoted to the end of the crank, aV leale spring attached' to the crank and bearing against tliehandle and adapted to hold it resiliently in a position parallel to theshattv and the handle andspring havingrA cooperatinggrv elements` adapted to latch the handle positively in a position at' a right angle to the crank and parallel to theshaft, the spring having anextension lying inthe' circular recess and readily aocessible' tounllatch the elements.' and thehandle when in` its first position lyingv in' the'extension and holding` the crank from rotation; the said extension ofthe recess extendingbeyond the handle to thereto.

Signed at Rochester, New York, thisllth day of November, 1922.

J ULIEiT TESSIER.

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